Cochin is a fast developing commercial and tourist destination. But the city has its own problems – traffic jams, garbage strewn over the place, open drains, potholes, narrow roads and so on. What is it that can be done to make it a much better place to live? This is exactly what CPPR wishes to find out under Reinventing Cochin project….the part played by the state and civil society

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Pedestrian Audit

In the earlier post, I had mentioned about Pedestrian Audit. In most of the developed countries, pedestrians keep a check on the works undertaken by the local municipal corporation. If the local administration fails to keep the minimum standards set by the national government and the authorised agencies while building the pavements and side walks, they can be under the censure of the local mass who frequently use these facilities. Pedestrian audit standards and the methodology are very much available on web. The local audit team will be instituted and they will conduct the survey and then they will publish the report. Since Tort laws are very much in use in these countries, any violation of the standards set can lead to court cases. Some of the interesting Pedestrian Audit guidelines can be accessed at these websites.

Centre for Public Policy Research has collected a number of Pedestrian Audit Guidelines. The idea is to educate the local resident associations to conduct the surveys periodically. The other day I observed that from Kakkanad Byepass Junction signal to Palarivattom Juncation, there is enough space for sidewalks. Unfortunately, these side walks are treated like dumping Yards and no one can utilize the space in a meaning ful way. Indian Road Congress presecribes minimum five feet width for the sidewalks in cities. Fortunately, already laid sidewalks have more than five feet width. It means if we can design them properly and maintain them, it can change the whole environment there. Some times, i wish some one to conduct a pedestrian audit and show to the authorities how these small things can change the city landscape.